Blasts kill 17 Iraqis as militants target police

AT least 17 Iraqis were killed yesterday in a series of explosions that targeted police and US forces.

Near Kirkuk, 12 policemen who were dismantling an apparent decoy bomb were killed by another explosion. Three others were injured.

Brigadier Sarhat Qadir said the explosion occurred as a group of police were trying to cordon off the area. He said officials believed the bomb being dismantled was a decoy to draw in more police before the second bomb exploded.